New Guinea Impatiens  plant named ‘Fidimppi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Fidimppi’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant form; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large intense dark pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Fidimppi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fidimppi’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching New Guinea Impatiens plants with freely flowering habit and large attractive flowers.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081120, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081130, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens plant have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fidimppi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fidimppi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant         form.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large intense dark pink-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens flower later than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens do not fade with         development whereas flowers of plants of the female parent         selection fade with development.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have smaller flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens ‘Fitam Light Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,223. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of ‘Fitam Light Pink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Fitam Light Pink’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were darker pink in         color than plants of ‘Fitam Light Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Impatiens, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fidimppi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in De Lier, The Netherlands, in 12-cm containers and under commercial practice during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse with day and night temperatures averaging 18° C. Plants had been growing for nine weeks when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Fidimppi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081120, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081130, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at             temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six to eight days at             temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 19             days at temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 14 to 21             days at temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white to brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading             growth habit; mounded plant form. Freely branching habit             with about eight lateral branches; pinching is typically not             required. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 34 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 18 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 173A; at the nodes, tinted with close to             181A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of about five; simple.         -   Length.—About 12.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; moderately glossy in luster.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Between 136A and 139A;             venation, close to 183B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 183A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 181A to 181C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded axillary             flowers. Freely flowering habit with numerous flowers             developing continuously per lateral branch. Flowers             positioned above the foliage and typically face upright or             outward. Flowers last about ten days on the plant under             greenhouse conditions. Petals self-cleaning, gynoecium             persistent. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions. In the garden, flowering from spring through             summer in The Netherlands. Plants begin flowering about nine             weeks after planting.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 7.4 cm. Depth: About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Ovoid; pointed. Color: Between N57C and 58A.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single             whorl. Length, banner petal: About 2.6 cm. Length, lateral             and lower petals: About 3.2 cm. Width, banner petal: About             5.1 cm. Width, lateral and lower petals: About 3.8 cm.             Shape, all petals: Broadly cordate. Apex, all petals: Deeply             emarginate. Base, all petals: Attenuate. Margin, all petals:             Entire. Texture, all petals, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, banner petal: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Between 58B to 58C; towards the             base, close to 63A; color does not fade with development.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 58C;             central zone, close to 63A; central stripe, close to 59A to             59B. Color, lateral and lower petals: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 58B to 58C; towards the             base, close to 63A; color does not fade with development.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 58C;             central zone, close to 63B; central stripe, close to 63B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Three; one modified into an             elongated spur. Length, spurred sepal: About 1.4 cm. Length,             lateral sepals: About 1.4 cm. Width, spurred sepal: About             1.2 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 6 mm. Shape, spurred             sepal: Broadly ovate with elongate spur. Shape, lateral             sepals: Ovate. Apex, all sepals: Apiculate. Base, all             sepals: Cuneate. Margin, all sepals: Entire. Texture, all             sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             spurred sepal: Upper surface: Towards the base, close to 63A             to 63B; towards the apex, close to 144C. Lower surface:             Towards the base, close to 63A; towards the apex, close to             144C. Color, lateral sepals: Upper surface: Towards the             base, close to 63A to 63B; towards the apex, close to 144C.             Lower surface: Towards the base, close to 63A; towards the             apex, close to 144C. Spur length: About 5.5 cm. Spur             diameter: At flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm.             Spur texture: Smooth, glabrous. Spur color: Close to 60A;             with development, becoming closer to 185A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Mostly erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Between 59A and 60A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther             color: Close to 61B to 61D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Capitate. Stigma             color: Close to 158D. Ovary color: Close to N144A tinted             with close to 183B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea     Impatiens. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Fidimppi’ as illustrated and described. 